Halloween 2011

Halloween is our second favorite holiday around here (that does not include Joey).  It's definitely mine and I'm trying to brainwash the kids into making it theirs too;)  I think its working!

Here they are on Halloween night, itching to go trick or treating.  Isaac is a Ninja, Jay from Lego Ninjago to be exact.  Georgie is Rapunzel (shockingly she was one of the only Rapunzels we saw all of Halloween...I expected her to one of 100's!)  Juliet was a black widow spider who's costume you can't really see in the pictures.  She was pretty cute:)  and I was a spider web, so we co-ordinated.  I know...cheesy!

 This is Georgie's idea of a pose.  Ha!!

 Isaac put the Ninjago symbol and his name that he drew and cut out all by himself on his back.  And there's Ju-B's black widow mark.

 Our first time decorating our trunk for the trunk or treat.  Isaac was so proud!

When we ran out of candy to hand out, Isaac started handing out his.  I kept telling him he didn't have to do that but he insisted.  "It's stuff I don't like anyway, Mom."  LOL!

 Georgie wasn't giving away ANY of her candy.

 Here's Ruth who always inspires me with her costumes.  She owns Halloween every year!!

 This is Ninja business,

 On a sugar high after the trunk-or-treat, faces painted, full of songs!

 Lookin' spooky....

Here they are with "Spooky Jack" the jack-O-lantern that they carved and

 named earlier that day with Dad.

And this is such a Ju-B face, I had to include it....shock and awe at the black bird perched on our railing.

 With DC and Ruth on Halloween night, ready to knock doors

 Ruth and I stayed on the porch and passed out candy.  

Joey took the kids around the neighborhood.

And this little spider lasted all night trick-or-treating, happy as a clam lapping up 

sucker after sucker all the way.  

Happy Halloween!!

Our Halloween

Happy, Happy, Happy 

Halloween!!

Cleopatra

 Darth Vader

 Joey and I's half attempt at a costume...Luke Skywalker and Cleopatras Mummy:)
Juliet was going to be a mummy as well but I didn't realize how much medical tape I would need to cover my HUGE body;)  I didn't even have enough for my own costume.  So, in Merback baby fashion, Juliet was a chili pepper just as Isaac and Georgie had been.

Our favorite halloween tradition is Top Secret!  So I can't tell you about it.  But I will allow you in on the pictures;)  And I can tell you that it's the coolest tradition ever!!

Looking tough:

We attended a pretty lame corn maize this year as well.  We had a good time just doing something different and getting out of Altus...but the maize was lame.

We 

I almost forgot...the tractor ride was really cool.

We found a 50's diner on the way home.  Here are the kids eating Ice Cream.

Happy Fall Ya'll!  Don't let the stores trick you...It's not Christmas yet! 

Better Late Than Never...Halloween

I know you'll be shocked, but Georgie was a princess this year.  Georgie had wanted to be Aurora since I first asked her the "costume question" a few months ago.  I told her that we weren't buying halloween costumes this year so she had to pick something from her closet.  When hearing what Georgie wanted to be, a kind friend let us borrow her little girls Aurora costume from a few years before.  It was perfect and Georgie loved it.

Of all things, Isaac wanted to be a bat.  I was pretty excited about this idea because it was his own, completely...not TV's idea, a friends idea or anything else.  I had fun putting his costume together out of a black beanie, an umbrella (for wings) and a black hoodie.  Cheap but cute!

Happy late Halloween!

Some Halloween Cookin'

Spicy Pumpkin Casserole

This dish wormed its way into our Halloween traditions about three years ago. My Mom gave me a strictly pumpkin cookbook and this dinner was our favorite. I urge you to give it a try on Halloween night. That's when we'll be feasting on it in a little bit different form...from inside the pumpkin.

Begin your project with a 2 lb pie pumpkin, top removed, 1 lb cooked ground turkey sausage, 3 cups of cooked, brown rice and 1 cup cheese (I've used all kinds).

Scrape the insides of your pumpkin and reserve the seeds for later roasting. Place pumpkin in a 350' oven, lid on, for 1hr or until soft.

Meanwhile, prepare the bechamel sauce.

The recipe says to stir constantly. They're not telling the truth! I think almost constantly would suffice until it starts to steam and simmer. Then you should stir constantly to prevent lumps.

When the pumpkin is done roasting, scrape the soft flesh into a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Begin your layering and...

Voi La!! Bubbly, cheesy deliciousness!

Spicy Pumpkin Casserole

2 lb pumpkin, washed and seeded

3 cups cooked rice

1 lb ground turkey sausage, browned

1 c Swiss cheese

1T butter

Bechamel Sauce:

2 T butter

2 T all purpose flour

1 ¼ c milk

freshly Ground Black Pepper

Preheat oven to 325’. Bake pumpkin until soft, about 1hr. Meanwhile, prepare the Bechamel sauce. Melt the butter in a small saucepan, add the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and simmer gently for about 10 minutes, then season with salt and pepper to taste.

When Pumpkin is done, scoop out the flesh, mash slightly and season with salt and pepper to taste. Arrange alternating layers of rice, sausage, pumpkin and béchamel sauce until your dish is full. Sprinkle the top with cheese, dot with butter and cook in a 425’ oven for about 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

In actuality, our favorite way to eat this dish is inside the pumpkin itself. Instead of scraping out the pumpkin after its cooked, take it out of the oven when its still a little bit firm. Layer your rice, then sauce, then sausage and cheese inside the pumpkin, flesh intact. Repeat. Then serve the pumpkin whole, in the center of the table and scoop out bits of cooked pumpkin with each serving. It makes the perfect Halloween night dinner!

Happy Halloween!

Here are some pictures of the ward halloween party that I was in charge of.  

I had a lot of helpers and it turned out really fun!

My little Batman and his pink poodle...can you tell that's what she is?

Before we put her ears on we sprayed her hair pink.  At this point I began to wish I had made her a rock star...there's always next year;)

Yes, I know, my face is WAY to green.  But that's what happens when you don't do trial run.  

Remind me NEVER to do this again:)

Georgie wandered around aimlessly during the games because I was sooo busy getting things organized and Joey wasn't there yet.  She stole peoples candy, settled into a corner somewhere and sucked on the packages until sugar began to seep through.  About 10 minutes after this picture was taken, her entire costume was shredded and she no longer appeared to be anything of consequence....That's my girl!

Cute Little Girls!

Here are some of the games we played:

Action Shot...go Batman!

Our cute friend, Savannah, bobbing for apples.

Ring-Around-A-Pumpkin

Fishing Pond

The Mummy Hop

Donuts-on-a-String

Here's Georgie bobbing for apples!  (and cutting in line:)

A smiling face fresh out of the germ bin!  Isaac said his favorite game was bobbing for apples!

We took off for Houston the very next morning at 8am!  Here is my Mom and the kids during one of their many "snuggle and books" sessions!

On the side of the road on a gravel hill after a potty stop...I forgot to rotate all my pictures...sorry!  Happy Halloween everyone!

THANK YOU, JOSH, FOR THE CAMERA!